Thinkers and Blinkers gave The Surmount Nepal a full feature in its Influencer Insights series: fifteen questions about where the band came from, what keeps it going and where it is headed next. Here is the story as the magazine told it.
Thinkers and Blinkers is a magazine run by BBA students of IIMS College and Lincoln International College in Kathmandu, under the motto Aspire Youth by Inspiring Youth. The students handle everything from the interviews and editing to layout, sponsors and printing, and its Influencer Insights series looks at how creators and personal stories are shaping Nepal today.
The band came together in 2014 in Bhaktapur, when a few musicians from the same neighbourhood found each other through a shared love of music. What began as informal jam sessions slowly turned into something more intentional. In those early years the focus was not only on playing better, but on understanding Nepal's music scene and what it really takes to build something meaningful.
The band did not rush. For years it played covers alongside a handful of originals, waiting until it felt ready. By 2024, after years of learning, it was finally confident enough to release its own music. In the magazine's words, the journey was never rushed; it was intentional.
The name carries the same idea. To surmount is to overcome obstacles and rise above them, and the band sees its name as a symbol of the perseverance and hard work behind everything it does.
The feature also spoke about a creative turning point. Many of the members came from a strong metal background, and moving toward broader, melodic, more accessible songs meant changing their mindset. It was never about abandoning their roots, but about growing beyond them. That took experimentation and stepping outside their comfort zones, and today the band sees those struggles as essential to how it grew.
The songs come from life's meaningful moments: love, heartbreak, joy and the quiet moments in between. The roots stay personal, with modern elements and subtle international influences folded in naturally. For the band, songwriting is about honesty, connection and sharing real emotion.
Asked which song sits closest to the heart, the answer was Yesai Gari. It is a song about loving someone despite distance and living fully despite separation, and every time the band plays it, it feels deeply immersive.
The proudest moment so far was playing the entire set of original songs live for the first time. The album had been composed in just a month and a half, through sleepless nights and relentless dedication, and hearing a large crowd answer it back was surreal.
There is more on the way. The band is working on a new album that will be more powerful, more refined and a reflection of how far it has come, with plans to push its sound further, within Nepal and beyond.
The feature closed with one message for listeners: if there is something you want to create or pursue, do not hold back. Work hard, keep learning and build your own path instead of following trends. Good things take time, and every step forward matters.
Thank you to Thinkers and Blinkers for the space and for the thoughtful questions.
Originally featured in Thinkers and Blinkers (TNB), Influencer Insights, released 9 April 2026.